Barbie Bassett is Chief Meteorologist for WLBT-TV.  Barbie sits on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation, the Magnolia Speech School, the Mississippi Epilepsy Foundation, the Madison Cultural Center for the Arts, the Girl Scout Council of Middle Mississippi and she is a graduate of Leadership Mississippi. She is Vice President of the American Meteorological Society Jackson Chapter, she keeps the nursery in Sunday School at Colonial Heights Baptist Church and is a Life Member of the Madison-Ridgeland Junior Auxiliary. She also conducts youth retreats across the state.  Barbie was selected as the "Volunteer of the Year" for the National Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation for 2004 and has been named one of Mississippi's "Top 40 Under 40".

Pat Bruce has experiences from the office of U S Senator John C Stennis (Liaison Staff Assistant), management of Oil & Gas companies, to ministering with World Ministry Fellowship of Dallas, TX.  Mrs. Bruce serves on the board of Madison County Chamber of Commerce, Ridgeland Northpark Lions Club, Madison Lions Club , MADCAAP, Inc. (Madison Countians Allied Against Poverty), United Methodist Senior Services of Mississippi, Inc., and is Chairman of Mississippi Protection & Advocacy System, Inc.  Mrs. Bruce is also state director of God's Handmaidens, Inc. of New Boston, TX.  She has won several awards through professional organizations where she has served - Desk & Derrick Club (past President and Regional Director) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (Chairman, MS & Southeast Region, and recipient of International Award of Merit).  Pat and her late husband have one daughter and four grandchildren.

Rev. John Campbell is Associate Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Starkville, MS.  Rev. Campbell serves on the board of Oktibbeha County Economic Development Association.  John was appointed by Gov. Barbour to serve on the Mississippi Board of Barber Examiners after a career as a barber with the distinctions of Barber Instructor and Master Barber.  An accomplished inventor with 5 patents, John is the President and Chairman of Shaver's Choice, Inc.  John and his wife Yolanda have one son, John Wesley, and live in Starkville.

Jill Landrum is the wife and business partner of David Landrum.  They share in the operating responsibility of over 100 Primerica offices in the United States and Canada.  Jill is the recipient of the Together Towards Success award and is recognized in the Primerica Partner Hall of Fame.

The Landrums teach an equipping class at Pinelake Church where Jill also facilitates women's Bible studies.

Jill is an oft-requested speaker on business topics.  She and David are the parents of two grown children and live in Madison, MS.

Leisha Jane (Prather) Pickering, is an accomplished pastry chef who operates Leisha Pickering Events, LLC, an event planning business that caters to local and national businesses and organizations. She has coordinated events for Presidential Inaugurations, planned the 9-11 Widows’ Baby Shower in New York, worked with the First Lady's Luncheon, and catered dinners for some of the biggest names in Washington, DC including Karl Rove, President George W. Bush's chief advisor. Her 2004 “Taste of the South” event at the 2004 Republican Convention was praised by the New York City cultural community.

She serves on the Board of Directors for the Palmer Home for Children, Habitat for Humanity Metro-Jackson, Here’s Life Mission to Africa, and Backyards and Beyond. She leads the Congressional Members and Families Committee, and works with organizations including the Republican Spouses, Congressional Club, and the International Club. She promotes issues of national and international concern, including the plight of victims of AIDS in Africa. She also has a passion in sharing the music, writing and arts of the South and promoting Southern culture.

In response to the damage of Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, Leisha organized and now serves as Chairman of HANDS: Helping American Needing Disaster Support. This nonprofit organization has supplied and coordinated relief for thousands of Mississippians and has been profiled on national news programs and praised in the press for its effective and compassionate services.

In 1988, Leisha married Chip Pickering who now serves as the Third District Congressman from Mississippi. They have five sons: Will, Ross, Jack, Asher, and Harper and reside in rural Madison County, Mississippi.
 

Brenda Van Velkinburgh, founder of the Christmas Village Foundation, serves as ex officio member of the board in the capacity of Chairman.  Brenda is one of four founders of the AmFed Companies, LLC.  She currently serves as its Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer.  Brenda has served on the Mississippi State University Insurance Advisory Board and the Computer Science Advisory Board. She also served as the President of the Central Mississippi MSU Alumni Association and was a member of the National Alumni Board. As an active Alumnus of Mississippi State University, she has earned numerous awards and recognitions; among them, Alumnus of the Year 2002, Central-Mississippi Alumni Association and Distinguished Fellow, School of Engineering, 2001.  Brenda serves as Secretary/Treasurer of Communications and Information Technology of Mississippi.  In 1998, she was chosen as one of the 50 Leading Businesswomen in Mississippi.

Brenda and her husband, Michael, live in Ridgeland and own SC3, LLC, of which she is CEO.

Michael Van Velkinburgh is President and Chief Operating Officer of SC3 LLC.  After completing his education at Millsaps College and Middle Tennessee State University in 1984, Michael joined the United States Air Force where he received his degree in Logistics from the Air Force Community College.  He retired from the  Air National Guard  in December 2006 having served over 21 years at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant.  In the military, MSgt Van Velkinburgh has earned the AF Achievement Medal,  Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with silver Hourglass and numerous federal ribbons and state medals and ribbons.  He has served the military professional organization, NCO Association, at the local and state levels.  Michael serves on the Advisory Board of AbilityWorks, Inc., a division of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.  He is also a member of Young Business Leaders of Mississippi and still active as an alumnus in the Alpha Iota Chapter (Millsaps College) of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

Michael and Brenda are members of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Madison where he is a Deacon.

Dr. Tami Brooks is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Blair E Batson Hospital for Children at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.  Dr. Brooks also serves as the legislative representative for the Mississippi Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics.  Dr. Brooks and her husband, Carl, live in Madison with their two boys, Sam and Max.

Nikole Genous, Site Coordinator, Christian Women's Job Corp